Wesley Corpus

But now the better hope brought in Gives perfect liberty from sin, And Christ vouchsafes t' impart The Spirit of holiness compleat, To make his saints for glory meet, To make them meek in heart. "Is the Lord's hand waxed short?" Num. xi. 23. No, Lord; it cannot shorten'd be That hand which plagued th' Egyptian race, Which brought thy people thro' the sea, Which led them o'er the wilderness; Page 67 Which hath to us so often given Drink from the rock, and bread from heaven! That hand hath open'd wide mine eyes: That hand, which now by faith I see, Measures the floods, and spans the skies, And grasps the winds and covers me! It brings the blind thro' ways unknown, It holds; it lifts me to a throne. Kept by that hand, I cannot fear Lest earth or hell should pluck me thence: I trample on temptation near, Supported by omnipotence, Possest of boundless power divine, Of boundless love for Christ is mine! "There ran a young man, and told Moses and said, Eldad and Medad do prophesy in the camp." Num. xi. 27. Eldad, they said, and Medad there Irregularly bold, By Moses uncommission'd, dare A separate meeting hold! And still whom none, but heaven, will own, Men whom the world decry,11 Men authoriz'd by God alone Presume to prophesy! "My lord Moses, forbid them." Num. xi. 28. How often have I blindly done What zealous Joshua did, Impatient to the rulers run, And cried "My lords, forbid! Silence the schismaticks, constrain Their thoughts with ours t' agree, And sacrifice the souls of men To idol unity!" 11Ori., "descry"; corrected in errata. Page 68 "Enviest thou for my sake?" Num. xi. 29. Moses, the minister of God, Rebukes our partial love, Who envy at the gifts bestow'd On those we disapprove: We do not our own spirit know, Who wish to see supprest The men that Jesu's spirit shew, The men whom God hath blest. "Would God that all the Lord's people were prophets, and that the Lord would put his Spirit upon them." Num. xi. 29. Shall we the Spirit's course restrain, Or quench the heavenly fire? Let God his messengers ordain, And whom he will inspire: Blow as he list, the Spirit's choice Of instruments we bless; We will, if Christ be preach'd, rejoice, And wish the word success.